Spark plug cleaner



March 13, 1956 w. c. HARRI hm m 23 Ir.

mm w

a William 6. Harrison 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent SPARK PLUG CLEANER William C. Harrison, Arrowsmith,ill. Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,735 1 Claim. (Cl.15104.01)

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in sparkplug cleaners of the type comprising a container on which the plug to becleaned is removably mounted with the shell in communication therewith,said container for the reception of a cleaning fluid and having mountedfor reciprocation therein a multiplicity of wire rods or needlesadapted, when the device is shaken, to impinge or strike the plug forremoving carbon as it is loosened by the fluid.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a spark plug cleaner of the aforementionedcharacter comprising simple but novel means for directing the wire rodsor needles into the plug in, around and under the electrodes, betweenthe porcelain and the shell, etc., for effectively removingsubstantially all carbon.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a spark plug cleaner ofthe character set forth which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use,compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spark plug cleaner constructed inaccordance with the present invention, showing the parts separated.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the device, showing aspark plug mounted thereon.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises anelongated cylindrical container 5 of transparent glass or other suitablematerial. The container 5, which includes an integral bottom 6, is openat its top.

Removably mounted on the upper end portion of the container 5 is asubstantially frusto-conical nipple 7 of suitable material, preferablyrubber. On its lower end, the nipple 7 includes a cylindrical skirt 8which receives the upper portion of the container 5. On its upper end,the nipple 7 terminates in an integral, upstanding neck 9 which isinternally threaded to accommodate the threaded 10 of the usual metallicshell 11 of a spark plug 12. It will be observed that the constructionand arrangement is such that the spark plug shell 11 communicates withthe container 5 and that the electrodes 13 and 14 of said plug projectthereinto.

The container 5 is for the reception of a suitable quantity of carbonloosening and cleaning fluid 15 such, for instance, as carbontetrachloride. Loosely mounted for reciprocation in the container 5 is amultiplicity of wire rods or needles 16.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will bereadily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the useof several of the removable nipples 7 is contemplated, said nippleshaving necks 9 of various sizes to accommodate different sizes of sparkplugs. With the correct nipple 7 mounted on the container 5, the sparkplug to be cleaned, as at 12, is screwed into the neck 9 of said nipple.The device is then shaken vigorously and turned in the hand for throwingthe fluid 15 upwardly into the spark plug 12, also the wire rods orneedles 1:). In this manner the carbon in the spark plug is removed asit is softened by the fluid. The fluid also Washes the interior of theplug and the needles 16. The substantially frusto-conical nipples 7direct the needles 16 into the plug from various angles for thoroughlycleaning between the porcelain and the shell and particularly around thenegative electrode 14, the latter constituting a highly important anddesirable feature of the invention. When the operation has beencompleted the spark plug is removed and a suitable closure may beinserted in the neck 9 of the nipple 7.

It is believed that the many advantages of a spark plug cleanerconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction may be resorted to which will fall within thescope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

lower end portion References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS

